COLUMBIA, SC-Nearly 2.5 million South Carolinians will be eligible to vote in the November 7, 2006, General Election. That number has increased by approximately 140,000 since the 2004 General Election.

ELECTION

REGISTERED

VOTED

2006 General Election

2,454,963

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2004 General Election

2,315,182

1,631,148 (70.5%)

2002 General Election

2,047,368

1,116,936 (54.6%)

2000 General Election

2,266,199

1,433,533 (63.3 %)

1998 General Election

2,021,763

1,098,484 (54.3%)

Election officials in voter registration offices throughout the state describe absentee voter turnout as average. An informal poll of eight counties of differing sizes and geographical locations shows the number of absentee ballots issued as of noon today to be consistent with the number issued for the last gubernatorial election in 2002. However, absentee voting is light compared to the 2004, a presidential election year.

County

Absentee Ballots Issued as of 12:00 p.m., November 1*

Absentee Ballots Issued- 2004

Absentee Ballots Issued- 2002

Allendale

387

433

118

Charleston

7,200

13,241

7,293

Chesterfield

328

671

264

Florence

1,133

3,676

1,544

Greenville

3,864

13,505

6,239

Oconee

2,050

4,329

1,879

Richland

6,158

15,246

8,343

Williamsburg

388

934

372

*Absentee Ballots may be cast up until 5:00 p.m., November 6.

There is still time for eligible voters to cast an absentee ballot. The deadline for voter registration offices to receive absentee ballot applications by mail is 5:00 p.m., Friday, November 3. Voters may cast absentee ballots in-person at their county voter registration offices up until 5:00 p.m., Monday, November 6. The deadline for all absentee ballots to be returned to voter registration offices is 7:00 p.m. on Tuesday, November 7. Polling places will open at 7:00 a.m. on November 7 and will close at 7:00 p.m. Those waiting in line at 7:00 p.m. will be allowed to vote.